EU Council: Business for November (Hansard, 2 November 1998)

See below.

Monthly Forecast of Business for November 1998
Date	Location	Event
November 1998
3	Brussels	Consumer Council
9	Brussels	Internal Market Council
9–10	Brussels	General Affairs Council
12	Brussels	Health Council
16	Brussels	Industry Council
17	Brussels	Culture Council
20	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs Council
23	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
23–24	Brussels	Agriculture Council
24	Brussels	Budget Council
26	Brussels	Youth Council
27	Brussels	Telecommunications Council
30	Brussels	Development Council
30–1 December	Brussels	Transport Council

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

November 3: Consumer Council

Proposal for a Council Directive on the distance selling of financial services: Commission presentation
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers: Common position
Consumer preparation for introduction of Euro Public debate
Quality standards for instructions for use of technical appliances used in households: Council Resolution
Commission information campaign on food safety: Presentation by the Commission
Consumer dimension in the information society: Council resolution
EURO-MED consumer conference: Commission report

November 9: Internal Market Council

Single Market Action Plan: Actualisation of the rolling programme—Updated version of the Scoreboard: Presentation by the Commission—Mutual recognition: Council resolution—Standardisation: Progress report
Legislative simplification: SLIM initiative: Report by the Commission, evaluation debate—Simplification of national legislation: Report by the Presidency on the outcome of the conference on "Better Regulation Serves Employment"—European Business Test Panel: Report by the Commission
Amended proposal for a Regulation on the Statute for a European Company (SE): Political agreement or progress report
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Directive 85/374/EEC on the harmonisation of the legislations of the Member States regarding product liability: Common position
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 3259/94 laying down measures to prohibit the release for free circulation, export, re-export or entry for a suspensive procedure of counterfeit and pirated goods: Adoption
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Council Directive 92/109/EEC relating to the manufacturing and placing on the market of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances: Common position
Follow up to the Commission communication on public procurement: Orientation debate
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the approximation of provisions relating to the implementation of Good Clinical Practice in the conduct of clinical tests on medicinal products for human use: (possible) Common position
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Council Regulation (EC) No. 297/95 on fees payable to the European Agency for the evaluation of medicinal products: Adoption
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on in vitro diagnostic medical devices: Common position
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society: Common position (possible item)
Follow up to the Commission Communication on Commercial communications: Report by the Commission
Amended proposal for a 13th Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Company Law concerning take-over bids: Common position
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to cableway installations designed to carry passengers: Orientation debate
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/23/EEC relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fitting: Common position
Amended proposal for a 10th Directive of the Council based on Article 54(3)(G) of the treaty concerning cross-border mergers of public limited companies: Presentation by the Commission
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the specific WA 21 aspects of the information society including electronic business communications: Presentation by the Commission
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the legal protection of services based on, or consisting of, conditional access: Progress report
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption: Common position (Common position)
Commission communication on the Green Paper on the general principals of food law in the European Union: Presentation by the Commission
Proposal for a Council Directive relating to honey: Adoption (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption: Adoption (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive relating to fruit jams, jellies and marmalades and sweet chestnut puree intended for human consumption: Adoption (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive relating to certain sugars intended for human consumption: Adoption (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption: Adoption (possible item)

November 9–10: General Affairs Council (agenda can change up to a week before)

Agenda 2000
Enlargement
Comitology (possible item)
TACIS: Orientation debate (possible item)
Poland: Adoption of the EU position for the Association Council (possible A item)
Hungary: Adoption of the EU position for the Association Council (possible A item)
Czech Republic: Adoption of the EU position for the Association Council (possible A item)
Slovenia: Adoption of the EU position for the Association (co-operation) Council (possible A item)
Russia: Report of the EU-Russia Summit
EU-USA: Preparation of the Summit (possible item)
Western Balkans
Indonesia
Africa
Middle East Peace Process (possible item)
Algeria (possible item)
Export controls: Assistance to the associated countries (possible A item)
Preparation of the OSCE Ministerial Council

22WA

November 12: Health Council

Communication from the Commission concerning the future framework for action in the public health field: Council Conclusions
Amended proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on injury prevention in the context of action in the field of public health: Common position
Proposal for a Council Recommendation on limits for exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields: Progress report
EU-US Task Force on communicable diseases: Council Conclusions following the 4th meeting on the Task Force in October
Report from the Commission on the implementation of Directive 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC concerning homeopathic medicine:
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: Discussion
Progress report from the Commission on the reduction of tobacco consumption in the Community: Progress report or exchange of views (possible item)

November 16: Industry Council

Report from the Commission on the competitiveness of European Industry: Presentation
Business services—Commission communication: Presentation
Results of benchmarking analysis—Financing Innovation—Skills—Logistics—Adoption of ITCs and organisational change: Presentation and (possible) conclusions
Sectorial issues and Commission communications (possible item)
Commission communication—Competitiveness of the recycling industry: Presentation
Mid-term work programme for the organisation of an ongoing debate on industrial competitiveness: Debate
The follow-up of the recommendation of the BEST Task Force: Progress report
Information of the Presidency on the results of the Forum/Roundtable in Baden: Presidency conclusions
Results of the conference on supplier industries in Graz: Information by the Presidency
Structured dialogue with PECOs and Cyprus: Preparation of the meeting
Proposal for a Council Directive combating late payment in commercial transactions: Debate, (possible) adoption
Shipbuilding—Monitoring report on aid to certain shipyards undergoing restructuring: Presentation
State Aid: Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down detailed rules on the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty: Debate, (possible) adoption
10th Monitoring Report on the control of aid to the steel industry: Presentation
Future of ECSC Treaty—Expiry of the ECSC Treaty: Commission communication—Financial activities—Non-financial Activities concerning the Steel Aid Code: (possible) Decision
Communication from the Commission on a global approach to promote regional and social conversion and to facilitate industrial restructuring in the Central and Eastern European Countries: Presentation
Competition policy—XXVIIth report on competition policy: Presentation
Electronic commerce: Oral report on the Ottawa Conference: (possible) conclusions

November 17: Culture Council

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a Community initiative for the "European City of Culture" event: (possible) Adoption or progress report
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural co-operation (1st European Community framework programme in support of culture, 2000–04): (possible) Common position or progress report
Culture and Employment: Debate
Cross-border fixed book prices in European linguistic areas: Report by the Commission
Evaluation of the MEDIA II programme: Report by the Commission (possible item)
European audiovisual sector: Presidency report
Commission communication on the future of the audiovisual policy in the European Union: Public debate
Consultation process regarding the Green Paper on the convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectors, and the implications for regulation: Report by the Commission
Council decision on an information infrastructure on audiovisual issues: Progress report or adoption (possible item)
High level Audiovisual Group set up by Commissioner Oreja: Report by the Commission

November 20: Employment & Social Affairs Council

Joint Employment report 1998: Debate
Commission Draft Employment Guidelines 1999: Debate

November 23: ECOFIN Council (provisional agenda)

Preparation of Stage 3 of EMU
Taxes
SEM 2000/Fraud prevention—Protection of financial interests/Discharge in respect of the 1996 budget (Report from the Commission to the WA 24 EP)/Court of Auditors' report on the 1997 EU budget
Employment
Agenda 2000
Financial services (possible item)
Stability and convergence programmes (possible item)

November 23–24 Agriculture Council

Agenda not yet available

November 24: Budget Council (provisional agenda)

Draft general budget for the financial year 1999 (possibly) Draft supplementary and amending Budget for 1998

November 26: Youth Council

Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Community action programme for youth: Common position or progress report
Pilot project on European voluntary service for young people: Report by the Commission

November 27: Telecommunications Council

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on electronic signature: (possible) Common position. Political agreement on Articles (possible)
Convergence of telecommunication sectors, media and information technologies: Relementary implications: Commission communication on the result of consultations and exchange of views
Globalisation and information society: Strengthening of the international co-ordination: Progress report
Commission communication on a Community policy in the field of frequencies: Presentation by the Commission
Proposals for Decisions concerning a second phase for IDA programme: Orientation debate and (possible) political agreement on 1 of 2 Decisions
Commission communication on the implementation of the relevant Community legislation on telecommunication: Presentation by the Commission
Management of the Internet: Progress report

November 30: Development Council

Peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution
Tourism and development
Operational co-ordination
Evaluation
Indigenous peoples
Microfinance and development
Anti-personnel mines
Private sector in ACP countries
Decentralised co-operation—NGO co-financing
Gender
Democratisation and Human Rights—Article 130W—Article 235
Renegotiation Food Aid Convention 1995
Co-ordination with a view to meetings of the WFP Executive Board.

November 30/December 1: Transport Council

Proposal for a Council directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures: (possible) adoption of a common position
Negotiations between the European Community and Switzerland on inland and air transport: Progress report/conclusion
Framework for a solution for the environmental problems caused by heavy goods vehicles: Policy debate, Commission communication expected (possible item)
Proposal to amend Regulation 3820/85 concerning working time in road transport: Policy debate, Commission proposal expected (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 92/106/EEC on the establishment of common rules for certain types of combined transport of goods between Member States and amending Council Directive 96/53/EEC, as far as the maximum authorised weights in international traffic are concerned: (possible) Common position (possible item)
Rail infrastructure: Policy debate/(possible) common position on specific directives (possible item)
Commission communication on the interoperability in conventional rail transport: Policy debate (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 82/714/EEC laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels: Policy debate
Implementation of Decision 1692/96 (Ten-Guidelines): Policy debate, Commission report expected (possible item)
Transport Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA): Policy debate, Commission report expected (possible item)
Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 94/55/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road: Policy debate
Commission Communication on common policy on manning of regular passenger and ferry services operating between Member States—Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3577/92 of 7 December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States—
Proposal for a Council Directive on manning conditions for regular passenger and ferry services operating between Member States: Policy debate and (possible) Common position
Proposal concerning the RO-RO ferries: (possible) Common position
EU/US aviation relations—policy debate
Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No. 295/91 establishing common rules for a denied-boarding compensation system in scheduled air transport: Common position
Green paper "Civil aviation and the environment": Policy debate (possible item)
Commission communication on air transport market: Policy debate

This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

European Calendar: November 1998-April 1999
Date	Location	Event
November 1998
3	Brussels	Political Committee
3	Brussels	Consumer Council
3–4	Vienna	EU/SADC Ministerial Meeting
3–4	Vienna	Defence Ministers (Informal)
4–5	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
9	Brussels	Internal Market Council
9	Brussels	Political Committee
9–10	Brussels	General Affairs Council
12	Brussels	Health Council
16	Brussels	Industry Council
16–20	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
17	Brussels	Culture Council
19	Brussels	Political Committee (if necesssary)
20	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs Council
23	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
23–24	Brussels	Agriculture Council
24	Brussels	Budget Council
26	Brussels	Youth Council
26	Brussels	Political Committee
27	Brussels	Telecommunications Council
30	Brussels	Development Council
30–1 December	Brussels	Transport Council
December 1998
1	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
1	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs and ECOFIN Council
1	Vienna	Parliamentary Heads
2	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs Council
2–3	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
3–4	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs
4	Brussels	Education Council
7	Brussels	Political Committee
7–8	Brussels	General Affairs Council
10	Brussels	Research Council
11	Vienna	Political Committee
11–12	Vienna	European Council
14–16	Brussels	Agriculture Council
14–18	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
15	Brussels	Energy Council
17–18	Brussels	Fisheries Council
21	Brussels	Environment Council

27WA

Date	Location	Event
January 1999
1	Brussels	ECOFIN
11–15	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
14	Brussels	Fisheries Council (possible)
18	Brussels	Agriculture Council
18	Brussels	ECOFIN
19	Brussels	Agriculture Council
25	Brussels	Political Committee
25–26	Brussels	General Affairs Council
27–28	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
February 1999
4–6	Bonn	Ministers for Labour & Social Affairs (Informal)
8	Brussels	ECOFIN
8–12	Stransbourg	European Parliament Plenary
11–12	Berlin	Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)
18	Brussels	Research Council (possible)
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22–23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
22–23	Brussels	Agriculture Council
24–25	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
25	Brussels	Internal Market
March 1999
9	Brussels	Labour & Social Affairs Council
11–12	Brussels	Environment Council
12	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council (possible)
13–14	Reinhartshausen	Foreign Ministers (Informal)
15	Brussels	ECOFIN
15–16	Brussels	Agriculture Council
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22–23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
24–25	Brussels	Special European Council (possible)
24–25	Frankfurt	Asia-Europe Finance Ministers
25	Brussels	Fisheries Council
29	Brussels	Transport Council
29–30	Berlin	Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers
April 1999
13	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
15–16	Stuttgart	Barcelona III
16–18	Dresden	ECOFIN (Informal)
19–20	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
22	Luxembourg	Telecommunications Council
23–25	Mecklenburg	Environment Ministers (Informal)
24–25	Luxembourg	NATO Summit
26–27	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
29	Luxembourg	Industry Council